Christmas Greeting Verses /updated/

At the time of waiting for Christmas - to say, write and send each other bright thoughts, words and wishes! That is why I decided to share the Christmas greeting verses accumulated in my notebook.

* * *
Each year has its own moment of joy -
as each morning has its own bright edge.
A dear one comes, leans close to your ear
and whispers to you of their island of dreams.

Yet each year has its own holy evening,
its own white threshold beyond which to leave sorrow:
the blizzard hangs so clean a towel at the window,
and snow-laden firs are full of white omens.

/P. Jurciņš/

* * *
On this holy night earth and heaven shimmer,
On this night the heart speaks with the stars -
And hatred stills, and we love each other once more,
And warm wings of peace spread over all.
On this night your footsteps shine as you walk,
This night can give you hope amid your doubts;
This night bids you forget all, all your sorrows
And teaches you to love, to forgive all,
This night has opened heaven's gates,
Above earth's darkness it burns its arc of stars,
And on this night upon every head, quietly,
God places His loving hand in blessing.

/V. Mora/

* * *

Tinsel garlands glitter in the rooms.
In yards where blizzards toss the snowflakes,
Paths are swept, gates are lifted:
In a painted sleigh Christmas rides.

Silver reins flash on the colts,
To the jingling of bells the sleigh halts;
Candles light up the little firs so brightly,
Father Christmas waves in a friendly way.

The long-awaited gift bags open,
Children's hearts begin to beat with joy:
Earth and air grow full of happiness,
The Christmas star shines over the world.

/N. Kalniņš/

* * *

A silver little moon rolls through the air.
Into the yard comes the elf with his gift bag.
He came, set it down quietly in the hallway
And went on his way toward the neighbours.

/V. Plūdonis/

* * *
Why do you shrink from the company of heartaches!
All pain one day ends and fades away.
There is no one who has not known happiness,
There is no one who broods forever.

He who gave life to the world
Rose this night from eternity,
Bathed in starlight, will come to you
To love you as the Son of Man.

/J. Ziemeļnieks/

* * *
May your heart be warmed by that white song
Which the earth sings to the heavens tonight.
May you keep within yourself that candle flame
With which one can safely walk through blizzards.

/K. Apšukrūma/

* * *
The New Year too will have long hours of care
And moments of joy that flash by quickly.
And there will be dreams and work to be done,
But that is why we live beneath the sun.

/K. Apšukrūma/

* * *

Though it's a little sad the year is ending again,
Yet you smile - the new one comes.
May joy be plentiful,
May sorrows pass,
Begin the year with joy in your heart!

/K. Skujenieks/

* * *
When the midnight hour turns snowflakes into stars
And the snow on the eaves has grown smiling,
Someone tosses a lapful of white stars into your heart -
That is the New Year,
That is the festive joy!

/S. Kaldupe/

Updated 21.12.2008.

***

When the Christmas stars illuminate the earth,
May pure joy take up dwelling in our hearts,
May the winds carry all sorrows away
And may you not feel yourself a debtor.

May the Christmas stars shine forever
And pour white peace over the earth,
May they bring light with a hushed song
And sow love in every heart.

/J. Tabūne/

***
May summer be warm, may winter have snow,
May there be work, may there be friends, and joy from time to time,
May the soul be able to wind white threads of dreams,
May those arrive whom you long to welcome.

/Ā. Elksne/

***
Come, silent night, with your sacred peace
For which countless hearts yearn.
And may we hear once more the message of the stars
That a person may still believe and hope.

/V. Mežaraups/

***
It is Christmas again, softly snowing behind the windowpanes,
It seems: one must plunge into the snow all the way to the heart,
It seems - these snowflakes have the power to take away all sorrows,
It seems - on the blizzard-blown road we will meet again.

/.../

***
To dream of the happiness that will come in the future
Is the ancient custom of New Year's night.
May these bright dreams come true for you -
That is my New Year's wish!

/.../

***
It departs. The time we ourselves have lived
The blizzard has not yet churned and hidden its tracks in snow,
But already someone wishes us joy, and the face of the New Year smiles.
Once more the earth's lap is full of new hopes.

/R. Bertholds/

***
How we have longed since those early beloved days
For what descends in soft, white flakes?
The silent night snows and has the power to unite all -
This peace of heart - take it as a gift.

/L. Brīdaka/

***
Three white truths walk along the paths of years,
The first is kindness in every word we speak to one another,
Beside it honesty, which must rule between us,
And if duty walks alongside these two aims,
Then on this day wish for no other happiness...

/.../

***
See, written in the stars as well
Is the same as in the wide fields:
The silver must be sought, that white shimmer
Right here - within ourselves.

/I. Ziedonis/

***
Lift your eyes to where the light dwells
In the rose-hued constellations of the centuries,
Look with a child's faith
At the opened gates of heaven!

/V. Mora/

Updated 28.12.2008.

***
Very quietly I wish to wish you,
When Christmas snows upon the earth,
Such a pure, pure love
That places hands gently upon your head.

***
Fortune, give us tenderness at Christmas and a bright little candle that shines!
Fortune, pour a little joy into our hearts and set brightness in our eyes!
Fortune, send us the Christmas miracle, may the quiet little dream come true!
Fortune, come yourself to the feast and blessing shall be ours all!

***
May the Christmas star
Shine over all:
Peace on earth above,
Peace within every heart!

***
One golden ray from a host of stars
Falls straight into each of our hearts,
For the heart is the very place
Where the Christmas miracle dwells!

***
Hasten to do good deeds,
Strive to speak good words -
Christmas warmth flows into the soul,
Thoughts wander to the distances of stars.

***
This night the Heavenly Garden
Is all abloom in white roses.
This night the host of heaven
Sings of the Christ Child.
This night is holy, full of Wonders,
Blessed is one who can feel
Its deep holiness...

/V. Plūdonis/

***
Up the hill of Winter and Solstice
The sun and people climb -
To survey the work that has been done,
To welcome the new that is coming...

Updated 30.11.2009.

***

Open the gates, open the doors - Christmas is here,
Every year like a wizard it comes to comfort us all,
May it shimmer in every heart, in every soul
And like white snowflakes bring peace to the world.

The joy of Christmas is not denied to you either,
Even if lonely, even if alone you are,
If only you feel, if only you hear how ring
Christmas bells, Christmas bells for you and me.

May it shimmer in every heart, in every soul
And like white snowflakes bring peace to the world,
Open the gates, open the doors, open your heart to me,
Christmas comes like a wizard, faith blooms like a flower.

The joy of Christmas is not denied to you either,
Even if lonely, even if alone you are,
If only you feel, if only you hear how ring
Christmas bells, Christmas bells for you and me.

/Marija Naumova/

***

Bells and candles, and the scent of pies,
White tablecloths and the little fir glitters.
Outside the window a star shines in heaven,
Radiating light as warm as a heart.

Bells and candles with a wondrous flame,
Tables are set, there is porridge and cheese,
Children sing softly the song of Mary,
Peace has descended upon this world.

Bells and candles and the scent of pies,
The world is pure and white as snow,
Bells and candles and the green little fir,
The tenderness and joy of a Latvian Christmas.

Bells and candles guard this world,
Awakening songs that ring in the soul,
Warming little hearts in the harsh north wind,
Helping me to see the miracle.

Bells and candles are a Latvian's nature,
Each at this moment is given something of the kind.
A Latvian keeps song and warmth,
Bells and candles are a Latvian's pride.

Bells and candles and the scent of pies,
The world is pure and white as snow,
Bells and candles and the green little fir,
The tenderness and joy of a Latvian Christmas.

/Lauris Reiniks/

Updated 22.12.2011.

There has not yet been a year
That brought only happiness,
That shielded one from sorrows and cares
And led one to the hilltop of the sun.
But happy will be the one who knows how to smile
And take what each day gives.

***
Against the dark blue canvas of the sky
God has written a starry blanket,
So that, illuminating the world widely,
It might create a path that can be walked.

***
May the little spirit of kindness knock at every door,
For in every human child hope blooms with light,
May the evening be adorned with snowflakes,
May the morning blossom with the Christmas star.

Cradled in the branch of a fir,
Rests a candle's quiet white glow,
The heart senses God passing close by,
His face turned toward us.

***
Let us ask of the Christmas stars
To bloom as flowers in heaven's field,
Let us ask of the candles in the green fir branches
To burn as a bonfire in bright flames,
Let us ask of the Christmas night
To pour the power of light into our hearts,
Let us go into the Christmas night
To draw peace and love into our souls.

***
May the stars of the Winter Solstice
Bring each one heaven's light,
May the coming year be rich
With good thoughts, active days and
Joyful moments of respite.
May integrity dwell and reign within us,
A steadfast will to understand,
To bear and to help.

***
May the white peace of Christmas
Bring bright joy to your heart,
May the New Year cause happiness to pour,
To sparkle with the foam of success!

***
May Christmas peace be in every home,
May the New Year bring happiness and health!
May strength and endurance guide us on our way,
May the New Year be rich with success!

***
God's blessing -
So tender and white.
God's evening,
In which we gather,
To tell stories
Of life
And of bold dreams
On an evening blessed by God and the stars!